Eden Prairie sprinter Denzel Brown holds the state’s fastest times this spring in the 100- (10.53 seconds) and 200-meter (21.36). He runs the second leg of the Eagles’ 4x100 relay, clocked at No. 1 in the state (42.45).

The quote: “He’s got a fifth gear,” said Mark Griffin, Eden Prairie assistant coach who directs the sprinters. “He maintains his core strength after 60 meters and that’s what makes a difference.”

Building on last year: As a junior last season, Brown won the 200 and placed second in the 100 and 4x100 relay. He swept all three events this spring at two big events, the Hamline Elite Meet and the Howard Wood Dakota Relays in Sioux Falls.

Up next: Brown competes in the Class 2A, Section 6 preliminaries Tuesday afternoon at Orono. Finals are held Thursday at Hamline University, site of the state meet June 9-10.